Who Will Host 2016 Summer Games?

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will announce on Friday which city among Chicago, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo or Madrid will host the 2016 Summer Olympics.

It's expected to be a very close ballot this time around. The winning candidate requires more than 50 percent of the votes cast in a secret electronic ballot. If no city reaches 50 percent, the candidate with the fewest votes drops out and a fresh ballot is made. Long story short: There likely will be three rounds of voting before the winner will be announced.

Get your wager in NOW on who will host the 2016 Olympics at Bodog.

So while it's a tight race, Bodog Sportsbook has come out with odds on who will host the 2016 Olympics? Let's look at each of those cities along with their odds…

Chicago (10/21): Most people believe that the Windy City is the favorite to host the Games for the first time. The reasons are twofold: The U.S. hasn't hosted a Summer Games since 1996 in Atlanta, and President Barack Obama is putting all his weight behind his hometown bid. Obama will be in Denmark to give a last-minute pitch for the U.S. – he will be the first U.S. president ever to personally address IOC voters (Oprah Winfrey will be there too). And don't rule out the financial factor: Chicago estimates it would generate $1.8 billion in sponsorships as host — three times more than Rio.

Rio de Janeiro (11/4): The main stumbling block behind Rio is the perception of the city as rather crime-ridden. Plus not much of the infrastructure is yet in place – things like highways, public transit, stadiums, etc. What Rio does have on its side is that South America has never hosted an Olympics, and it is touting the IOC's chance to make a historic decision for a developing nation. Also, the city is hosting the 2014 World Cup, so it will be used to hosting a massive worldwide event and will be adding much of the above-noted infrastructure. But some on the IOC don't like having the thought of having their "thunder" taken away in the host city by the World Cup just two years before the Games.

Tokyo (5/1): Japan hasn't hosted a Summer Games since 1964, so it is more overdue than the U.S. And in the first round of the selection process in 2008, Tokyo received the highest overall evaluation. But it seems that the Japanese people aren't overly excited about bringing the Games, and experts seem to think Tokyo doesn't have a great shot because the 2008 Games were in Asia (Beijing). Also, Japan's new government is sending mixed signals about the Olympics.

Madrid (10/1): Spain this month adjusted its anti-doping laws to comply with international regulations and boost Madrid's chances of staging the 2016 Games. But the Spanish city's bid likely will be hurt by the fact that the 2012 Games are not too far away in London. And Madrid's chances weren't helped at all when the second in command on Spain's Olympic Committee this week said that Rio was "the worst of the four candidates." Criticizing a rival candidate is not allowed under IOC rules, and Rio lodged a formal complaint.
This race will come down to Chicago and Rio. Frankly, with the odds the way they are, your best value bet is Rio because IOC members have a chance to make history.

Get your odds on who will host the 2016 Olympics at Bodog Sportsbook


:dirol

I hope Chicogo

And we have our answer! Rio de Janeiro!

Samba! Hope I'll be there 😄

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will announce on Friday which city among Chicago, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo or Madrid will host the 2016 Summer Olympics.

It's expected to be a very close ballot this time around. The winning candidate requires more than 50 percent of the votes cast in a secret electronic ballot. If no city reaches 50 percent, the candidate with the fewest votes drops out and a fresh ballot is made. Long story short: There likely will be three rounds of voting before the winner will be announced.

Get your wager in NOW on who will host the 2016 Olympics at Bodog.

So while it's a tight race, Bodog Sportsbook has come out with odds on who will host the 2016 Olympics? Let's look at each of those cities along with their odds…

Chicago (10/21): Most people believe that the Windy City is the favorite to host the Games for the first time. The reasons are twofold: The U.S. hasn't hosted a Summer Games since 1996 in Atlanta, and President Barack Obama is putting all his weight behind his hometown bid. Obama will be in Denmark to give a last-minute pitch for the U.S. – he will be the first U.S. president ever to personally address IOC voters (Oprah Winfrey will be there too). And don't rule out the financial factor: Chicago estimates it would generate $1.8 billion in sponsorships as host — three times more than Rio.

Rio de Janeiro (11/4): The main stumbling block behind Rio is the perception of the city as rather crime-ridden. Plus not much of the infrastructure is yet in place – things like highways, public transit, stadiums, etc. What Rio does have on its side is that South America has never hosted an Olympics, and it is touting the IOC's chance to make a historic decision for a developing nation. Also, the city is hosting the 2014 World Cup, so it will be used to hosting a massive worldwide event and will be adding much of the above-noted infrastructure. But some on the IOC don't like having the thought of having their "thunder" taken away in the host city by the World Cup just two years before the Games.

Tokyo (5/1): Japan hasn't hosted a Summer Games since 1964, so it is more overdue than the U.S. And in the first round of the selection process in 2008, Tokyo received the highest overall evaluation. But it seems that the Japanese people aren't overly excited about bringing the Games, and experts seem to think Tokyo doesn't have a great shot because the 2008 Games were in Asia (Beijing). Also, Japan's new government is sending mixed signals about the Olympics.

Madrid (10/1): Spain this month adjusted its anti-doping laws to comply with international regulations and boost Madrid's chances of staging the 2016 Games. But the Spanish city's bid likely will be hurt by the fact that the 2012 Games are not too far away in London. And Madrid's chances weren't helped at all when the second in command on Spain's Olympic Committee this week said that Rio was "the worst of the four candidates." Criticizing a rival candidate is not allowed under IOC rules, and Rio lodged a formal complaint.
This race will come down to Chicago and Rio. Frankly, with the odds the way they are, your best value bet is Rio because IOC members have a chance to make history.

Get your odds on who will host the 2016 Olympics at Bodog Sportsbook


:dirol